COLLEGE: Important institution

I was sad to read that Northumberland College in Ashington is on the verge of a merger with a college in Sunderland.

It is surprising in that the college is an important institution in Ashington.

If it has been facing financial challenges, I would have expected some debate on the issue.

Further education colleges continue to perform a valuable role in our society in enhancing people’s skills, which continually need to evolve as the economy changes.

Hopefully, firm statements will be issued from Northumberland County Council and the interested stakeholders to allay any concerns people have.

With talk of how shopping centres are running at a loss throughout the country due to the way people have embraced shopping on the internet, it is surely getting to the stage when local authorities have to look at a different vision for a shopping centre in their area so that it can have a profitable and viable future.

There has been much talk of boosting retail in Ashington and Bedlington.

Hopefully, Arch’s replacement, Advance, has firm enough contacts with the owners of the shopping centres in Morpeth, Blyth and Cramlington to understand the retail picture and begin to think about how shopping areas in our towns should look in the future.